Elevated Sump.

[Smithers]

I have a bank of tanks next to my main tank. I want to use the top tank on the stand as a DSB and Fuge. I will have the water coming from my tank into the skimmer and into the sump below my tank.
I want to add an extra pump to push water to the top tank.
Are there any advantages/disadvantages to having 2 sumps or am I asking for :****: ?
My current sump contains live rock only.

 

[Mekaeel]

i can only see you benefitting from it,dont see anything wrong

 

[Copperband]

Smithers, I believe you'll actually get some advantages by having the top DSB. You can now feed pods and other goodies into the tank via syphon. Many ppl believe that the pods going via a pump into the tank isn't as effective as via a top down syphon.

 

[Smithers]

I was going to run it from my bottom sump up to the top sump then back down into the sump. But I think I will run the return into the tank. Be nice to get some extra water movement. Good thinkin Robbie.

 

[Copperband]

where do i send the invoice to??:sifone:

 

[DragonReef]

Yeah Smithers having a gravity fed fuge is first prize.
No real concerns, you just need to ensure that your current sump will handle the extra water volume in case of a power failure.

 

[Bristlebasher]

Hi there, are you talking about adding an additional sump to increase water volume and placing this above your main tank , or will it be a refugium containing cheato,rubble,lighting etc?The flow and layout will be different depending on what you would like to achieve so I am just trying to get the terminology sorted here.

 

[Smithers]

It will be a fuge containg Cheato and a DSB. The extra water volume wont be a bad thing either. I will have to pump water up from my existing sump up to the new fuge area. I have a 2800 Lph pump and it has to push the water up about 2 meters so with the head being that high it should be quite a drop in literage per hour.

 

[Bristlebasher]

Ok - then definately drain into the main tank.

The flow required through a fuge is low so the loss in head should not be too serious for the pump.

Just ensure you have enough available in the sump to allow for water when the power goes.

You might also have a problem with microbubbles in the main tank coming from the overflow of the refuge - so keep this in mind when designing this on the refugium.

 

[millepora]

As DragonReef said, an upstream fuge is first prize!!:blue:
I have one and am getting great natural live foods entering the main tank.

 

[Smithers]

BB I was thinging about the micro bubble problem last night. Came to the conclusion I may jus have to have it emptying into my sump. Hopefully it will work just as well.

 

[Copperband]

As DragonReef said, an upstream fuge is first prize!!:blue:
I have one and am getting great natural live foods entering the main tank.

Smithy isn't there a way you can "defuse" the water going back into the tank to avoid the micro bubble?

I really think upstream is the way to go if you want natural food in the tank.

 

[Smithers]

I am sure there must be a way to get rid of the bubbles. I will play around with it a bit I think. I am keen for the extra food and flow in my tank.

 

[Hill]

Wouldn't a durso with a nice slow flow through it minimize bubbles returning to the tank.

 

[Smithers]

I am going to use a durso. The thing is you still get bubbles coming out of it. I was thinking of trying to make an attachment to the return pipe in the tank so the bubbles can escape. Maybe some 32mm pipes with a hole or two cut in the top of it.

 

[Copperband]

i stuck a weipro sponge over my "failsafe" syphon pipe that feeds the sump, bubbles no longer..

 

[Smithers]

Actually that is not a bad idea at all Robbie. Think I will try that.

 

[Copperband]

the doctor is in da house!!!